Udall Scholarship in Excellence in National Environmental Foundation

Jan 10, 2016 | Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation
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The Udall Foundation fosters leaders who embrace—and practices that exemplify—its core values of integrity, civility, consensus, public service, and non-partisanship.  The U.S. Congress established the Udall Foundation in 1992 as an independent executive branch agency to honor Morris K. Udall's lasting impact on this nation's environment, public lands, and natural resources, and his work with American Indians and Alaska Natives (P.L. 102-259).  In 1998, Congress passed the Environmental Policy and Conflict Resolution Act (P.L. 105-156) to establish the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution as part of the Udall Foundation to assist parties in resolving environmental, public lands, and natural resources conflicts nationwide that involve federal agencies or interests.  In 2009, Congress enacted legislation to honor Stewart L. Udall and add his name to the Udall Foundation (P.L. 111-90).  Today, the agency is known as the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation.  For more information, please visit www.udall.gov .

Reporting to the Director of the DC Office of the Udall Foundation, the Senior Program Manager independently leads projects that can be complex, contentious, and high-profile; develops new projects; and works with the Director of the DC Office, Director of US Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution (USIECR), and other senior program staff to develop and implement a marketing plan for at least one program area.  The Senior Program Manager will oversee contracted neutral service providers and also provide direct mediation, facilitation, or training services as appropriate.

This position is a full-time, permanent, federal position in an Excepted Service Appointment with a level of responsibility and compensation comparable to a GS-14. 

The successful candidate will be based in Washington, DC. The salary range is from $107,325 to $139,523. Regular travel is a requirement and availability to travel is necessitated by the duties of this position. 

*The closing date on this announcement has been extended to January 29, 2016*

TRAVEL REQUIRED

  • 25% or Greater
  • Travel as needed

RELOCATION AUTHORIZED

  • Yes
  • Certain relocation expenses may be paid. A hiring incentive may be offered

KEY REQUIREMENTS

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • Employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit

DUTIES:

  • Under the supervision of the Director of the DC Office, independently perform and initiate general information and project intake; coordinate and manage the USIECR's role in the contracting process for neutral selection; and support contracting oversight and management of the neutral contract, often for multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Develop, with input from USIECR program staff, a long-term vision and near-term plan for building one or more services sector for consideration by the Director of the DC Office and USIECR Director.
  • Under the direction of the Director of the DC Office, in coordination with the USIECR Director, and with the assistance from Program Associates and other Program Managers, the incumbent coordinates case screening and project triage, case consultation, conflict assessments, and as appropriate serves as facilitator and/or mediator on projects and evaluations.
  • Under the supervision of the Director of the DC Office and in coordination with the Contracting Officer Representative, independently perform and initiate general information and project intake; coordinate and manage the USIECR's role in the contracting process for neutral selection; and support contracting oversight and management of the neutral contract, often for multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Successfully assess highly complex issues such as very visible public controversies with extreme distrust among parties, and/or serious process design hurdles to develop recommendations for ECR processes; effectively develop and implement ECR strategies relating to factually and technically complex multi-party conflicts to achieve project and program goals.
  • Effectively serve as lead facilitator in situations with a high degree of political, substantive and interactive complexity and in technically complex, multi-party settings with a high level of conflict, often involving senior decision-makers.
  • Effectively serve as lead trainer to manage delivery of environmental collaboration and conflict resolution trainings; as needed, assist with the convening and facilitation of dialogues within and across government agencies.
  • Draft or review Scopes of Work (SOW) for routine and complex project budgets for projects and programmatic efforts.  Budgets should reflect appropriate estimation of tasks, level of effort, timelines, costs and milestones.
  • Oversee teams during the development of complex projects, sector and program budgets, ensuring timelines, and milestones are met.
  • Under the supervision of Director of the DC Office, and in coordination with the Director of the USIECR, work collaboratively with all Udall Foundation programs to implement the Udall Foundation's Strategic Plan in building connections between programs of the Udall Foundation and the USIECR and collaboration programs.
  • Serve as a subject matter resource for other program staff and Udall Foundation management; mentor junior staff by providing direction on a project-specific basis.
  • Develop, and maintain relationships by communicating regularly with agency, tribal and other stakeholders from target program areas; monitor program area to evaluate progress in meeting strategic goals and to ensure performance on scopes of work, costs, and that timelines are met.
  • A significant amount of travel will be required.
  • Perform other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED: 

GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Demonstrated flexibility and ability to work independently, while also capable of working collaboratively with a team to develop and carry out an overall program.
  • Ability to take initiative and lead projects ethically, on scope and within budget, with attention to detail that produces the highest quality of work.
  • Ability to prioritize work and balance many projects simultaneously.
  • Demonstrated excellence in both oral and written communication (a writing sample is required).
  • Demonstrates excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Experience utilizing databases, spreadsheets, research tools, online collaboration tools, and social media.
  • Experience managing complex project teams (with 5 or more staff, contractors, partners, etc.)

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS:

  • An Advanced Degree and ten (10) years' experience in environmental, natural resources, or land use law, cultural resources law, science policy planning, or management of complex public policy issues is preferred.  In lieu of an Advanced Degree, an undergraduate degree and fifteen (15) years of comparable experience is required.
  • Possesses experience that is comparable to the professional standards of a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP), or Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP).
  • Familiarity with federal contracting, grants, or agreement processes in order to understand and work under the guidelines of federal contracting, grants, or agreement rules and regulations.
  • At least eight (8) years of experience leading large environmental collaboration and conflict resolution projects, including national level projects.  At least five of these years should include experience in public policy negotiations or other consensus seeking processes.
  • Collaborative problem solving experience in federal, state, regional, tribal, or local government, or in the private sector dealing with public policy matters and public institutions.
  • Demonstrated competencies in the numerous skills required for large public meeting facilitation.
  • Skill and experience in situation assessment and process design.
  • Experience as a project manager and team leader; responsible for developing funding streams and managing programs or large projects involving conflict resolution, multi-party collaboration or public involvement.
  • Experience as a trainer of conflict resolution, mediation or dispute resolution

All applicants must meet the qualifications by the closing date of the announcement

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your application will be evaluated based on how well your letter of interest with narrative statements, your resume, and your writing sample reflect accomplishments, experience, and education that respond to the general and technical qualifications.  

BENEFITS:

Employment with The Udall Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in a Federal retirement system. To find out more about benefits offered to Federal employees, please visit https://help.usajobs.gov/index.php/Pay_and_Benefits

OTHER INFORMATION:

EEO Policy Statement: The Udall Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit with no discrimination for non-merit reasons such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, protected genetic information, status as a parent, lawful political affiliation, marital status, physical/mental disability (if not a job factor), membership or non-membership in an employee organization, or any other non-merit factor.

Reasonable Accommodation: The Udall Foundation provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should notify the point of contact on this vacancy announcement if a reasonable accommodation is needed for any part of the application and hiring process.

Privacy Act: Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

Signature: Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action.

Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from doing so under the Selective Service Law. The materials you send with your application will not be returned. Send only those materials needed to evaluate your application.

Financial Disclosure: All employees of the Federal Government are subject to the conflict of interest statutes and regulations, including the Standards of Ethical Conduct.

HOW TO APPLY:

Email required documents to: USIECR_SPM@udall.gov and montes@ecr.gov

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

  • Letter stating interest and containing narrative statements.
  • Resume, noting how you meet position qualifications and including three professional references.
  • Writing sample
  • Veterans: In order to be considered as a preference eligible, you must submit a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active Duty, DD-214 that shows the dates of your active duty service. If selected, a DD-214 showing your type of discharge (member 4 copy) will be required prior to appointment. If you are claiming 10-point preference, you must submit the following in addition to the DD-214: (1) completed SF-15 form; and (2) proof of your entitlement to this preference. A list of documents which serve as acceptable proof of entitlement is indicated on the SF-15 form.
  • Active Duty Military Personnel - In lieu of the DD-214, active duty service members may submit a certification from the armed forces stating that they expect to be discharged or released under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. This document should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch & must include rank, character of service & military service dates including expected discharge/release date.

AGENCY CONTACT INFO:

Debra Drecksel
Phone: 2025401043
Email: USIECR_SPM@UDALL.GOV

Agency Information:
Morris K Udall and Stewart L Udall Foundation
1825 K Street NW
Suite 701
Washington, DC
20006
US

WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT:

After preliminary review of applications to identify viable candidates, applicants may be invited for one or more interviews, which may occur by telephone, video, or in person.